Riding toy



y 1960 w. H. HORGAN 2,937,691

RIDING TOY Filed Feb. '7, 1958 FI'G.2 is

lllllllll ll INVENTOR WIL LIAM H. HORGAN ATTORNEYS r 2,937,691 Ice Patented May 24,196

RIDING TOY William H. Horgan, Mound, Minn., assignor to Moulded Products, Inc., Maple Plain, Minn., a corporation of -Minnesota Filed Feb. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 713,842

Claims. (Cl. 155-50) The herein disclosed invention relates to riding toys such as hobby horses and particularly to the frame for supporting the simulated horse.

. An object of the invention resides in providing steps mounted on the frame and by means of which the rider may more readily mount the horse.

Another object of the invention'resides in the specific construction of the frame.

. A still further object of'th'e invention resides in constnucting -the frame with a plurality of uprights having feet connected to the lower ends thereof and integral therewith, said'feet extending outwardly from said uprights.

An object of the invention resides in utilizing a ,stantially rectangular frame in which the uprights are disposed at the corners thereof and in which. transverse frame members and longitudinal frame members are provided extending across the uprights and in which both the longitudinal and transverse frame members are secured to the uprights by means of a common fastener such asa bolt or the like.

Another object of the invention resides in providing the transverse frame members with lugs extending upwardly therefrom and through which the bolts extend. -A feature of the invention resides in mounting the steps on the longitudinal frame members.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the uprights and feet from cylinder stock and in forming in said lugs arcuate grooves to receive the uprights.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated ,and/or described.

. In the drawings:

Fig. '1 'is a perspective view of a hobby horse illustrating an' embodiment of the invention.

1Fig.2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l'a'nd drawn to a greater scale. M "Fig. 3' a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1 and drawn to the same scale as Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. l and drawn to the same scale as Fig. 2.

The invention consists of a frame A on which is mounted a simulated horse B or other similar construction forming a seat for the rider. The simulated horse B has a body provided with a head 11 and rear and front legs 12 and 13. Extending through the body 10 are two rods 14 and 15 which project outwardly therefrom and which have attached to the ends thereof spring 16 and which are secured to the frame A as will be presently described. The body 10 carries a seat 17 mounted on the back of the same and on which the rider is positioned. At the forward portion of the front legs 13 is a crossbar 18 which forms a rest on which the feet of the rider may be placed.

The frame A is generally rectangular in form and con sists of four uprights 21, 22, 23 and 24 which are constructed from cylindrical tubular metal stock. The stock from which the said uprights is constructed is formed with bends 25 which provide feet 26 extending outwardly from the uprights. The feet 26 have subber tips 27 secured to the ends thereof and which rest upon the floor or other surface on which the toy is to be used. The feet 26 are angularly disposed with reference to the surface on which they rest so that the frame A is partly elevated through such angularity.

Extending across the uprights 22 and 23 and across the uprights 21 and 24 are transverse frame members 28 and 29. Thme frame members are also constructed of tubular metal stock and bends 31 in the same near the ends thereof form at the ends of said frame members upwardly extending lugs 32. These lugs are best shown in Fig. 2 and the material from which the lugs are formed is arcuate in form to provide arcuate grooves 33 extending along said lugs. These grooves are of such dimensions as to snugly receive the uprights 21, 22, 23 and 24.

Extending across the uprights 21 and 22 and across the uprights 24 and 23 are longitudinal frame members 34 and 35 which are preferably constructed from wood. These frame members overlie the outer surfaces of said uprights and are formed with transverse grooves 36 arcuate in form and which receive the said uprights. The parts are secured together by means of bolts 37 which extend jointly through the longitudinal frame members, the uprights, and the lugs 32 of the transverse frame members. This construction is clearly shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the grooves 36 and 33 'tiethe frame members anduprights'together so that a single bolt at each corner of the frame serves to hold the parts as- .sembled. r

ends of the uprights 21 "by means of loops '43 whichex- I tend through suitable openings 45 in said uprights. Rubber tips 44 applied to the upper ends of said uprights protect'the user from injury and at the same time enhanceth'e appearance of'the toy. 1

I In the sale of the toy, the same comes knocked down, with the various frame members taken apart. When the toyisdesired for use, the same is erected by passing the bolts through the longitudinal frame members, the uprights, and. thelugs of the transverse frame rnernb ers.

The loops 43 of the spring 16 are next hookeddntd the openings 45 in the uprights 21. The toy is then ready for use. Where the user is a small child, the steps 38 and 39 facilitate the mounting of the simulated horse by permitting the child to first step on one of the steps and then to swing his other leg over the framework and straddle the body 10 of the horse.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The frame construction is extremely simple and can be readily assembled by the use of a wrench, screw driver, or a pair of pliers. Only four fastenings are necessary to attach the parts, and when once erected a sturdy and substantial construction is provided. The framework of the hobby horse is attractive in appearance and has a minimum amount of weight so that handling of the toy is greatly facilitated and the cost of shipment of the same held to a minimum.

Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a riding toy a frame substantially rectangular in form and having uprights at the corners thereof, a transverse frame member extending between each pair of uprights at the ends of the frame and longitudinal frame members extending across said uprights at the sides of the frame, the combination of lugs issuing from said transverse frame members and extending along said uprights in the direction of extent thereof, said lugs being disposed opposite said longitudinal frame members, the transverse frame member and uprights at each end of the frame lying in a common plane, a single bolt lying in said plane and extending through the juxtaposed longitudinal frame member, upright and lug at each corner of the frame whereby a rigid knockdown frame is provided the parts of which are detachably secured together, and means for restraining movement of the uprights on each side of the frame in a longitudinal direction.

2. In a riding toy a frame substantially rectangular in form and having uprights at the corners thereof, a transverse frame member extending between each pair of uprights at the ends of the frame and longitudinal frame members extending across said uprights at the sides of the frame, the combination of lugs issuing from said transverse frame members and extending along said uprights in the direction of extent thereof, said lugs being disposed opposite said longitudinal frame members, the transverse frame member and uprights at each end of the frame lying in a common plane, said lugs and longitudinal frame members having grooves therein receiving said uprights on opposite sides thereof, a single bolt lying in said plane and extending jointly through the juxtaposed longitudinal frame member, upright and lug at each corner of the frame whereby a rigid knockdown frame is provided, the parts of which are detachably secured together.

3. In a riding toy a frame substantially rectangular in form and having uprights at the corners thereof, a transverse frame member extending between each pair of uprights at the ends of the frame and longitudinal frame members extending across said uprights at the sides of the frame, the combination of elongated feet extending outwardly from the lower ends of said uprights and below and beyond the ends of said longitudinal frame members and having floor engaging portions at the ends thereof, each upright and the foot thereof lying in a plane, said longitudinal frame members being of a length less than the longitudinal distance between the floor engaging portions of the feet and detachable connecting means between said uprights, lateral frame members and longitudinal frame members at the corners of the frame whereby a knockdown frame is provided, the parts of which can be packaged in a carton of a length, height and width less than the length, height and width of the erected frame.

4. In a riding toy a frame substantially rectangular in form and having uprights at the corners thereof, a transverse frame member extending between each pair of uprights at the ends of the frame and longitudinal frame members extending across said uprights at the sides of the frame, the combination of bends issuing from the lower ends of said uprights, elongated feet extending outwardly from said bends and inclining downwardly and outwardly relative to said uprights, the ends of said feet having floor engaging portions, each upright and the foot thereof lying in a plane, said longitudinal frame members being of a length less than the longitudinal distance between the floor engaging portions of the feet and detachable connecting means between said uprights, lateral frame members and longitudinal frame members at the corners of the frame whereby a knockdown frame is provided, the parts of which can be packaged in a carton of a length, height and width less than the length, height and width of the erected frame.

5. In a riding toy a frame substantially rectangular in form and having uprights at the corners thereof, a transverse frame member extending between each pair of uprights at the ends of the frame and longitudinal frame members extending across said uprights at the sides of the frame, the combination of elongated feet extending outwardly from the lower ends of said uprights and below and beyond the ends of said longitudinal frame members and having floor engaging portions at the ends thereof, each upright and the foot thereof lying in a plane, said longitudinal frame members being of a length less than the longitudinal distance between the floor engaging portions of the feet, lugs issuing from said transverse frame members and extending along said uprights in the direction of extent thereof, said lugs being disposed opposite said longitudinal frame member, the transverse frame member and uprights at each end of the frame lying in a common plane, said lugs and longitudinal frame members having grooves therein receiving said uprights on opposite sides thereof, a single bolt extending through the juxtaposed longitudinal frame member, upright and lug at each corner of the frame and lying in said plane whereby a knockdown frame is provided, the parts of which can be packaged in a carton of a length, height and width less than the length, height and width ofthe erected frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,984,655 Rassmussen Dec. 18, 1934 2,562,022 Duer July 24, 1951 2,568,622 Hagan Sept. 18, 1951 2,622,878 Mooney Dec. 23, 1952 2,624,579 Savella et al. Jab. 6, 1953 2,758,632 Kuller et a1. Aug. 14, 1956 2,770,290 Whittle Nov. 13, 1956 2,835,491 Meyers May 20, 1958 

